“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

At the very heart of societal structure, stands justice. It guides the collective existence of a community. It requires lawfulness, an absence of arbitrary actions and a framework promoting equal opportunities, equal privileges and freedom across all strata of society. Justice, a concept ingrained in the annals of political thought, is a dynamic force that has shaped the course of history.

Despite its paramount importance, justice remains hard to define, leaving ample room for interpretation and discourse.

In its pursuit of free and independent thought, humanity has grappled with subjects that defy precise definition — justice being one such enigmatic term. A malleable construct, justice defies universal principles, making it a subjective concept that adapts to the nuances of individual perspectives.

In some scenarios, what may appear just to one may not hold the same value for another. The challenge lies in the nature of justice itself. It lacks omnipresent principles to unequivocally delineate its contours. Nevertheless, embedded principles such as equality, fairness, impartiality and trust provide a framework through which justice can be derived.

Justice, often interwoven with the fabric of societal norms, is occasionally synonymous with fairness. However, this multifaceted term carries different meanings for individuals within a society. Rooted in the Latin word jus, denoting righteousness and the rule of law, a broad definition for justice often obscures its true essence. Delving into the word’s etymology reveals a connection to the concepts of restriction and obligations, adding layers of complexity to its interpretation.

Despite being a subject of endless debate, justice remains an intriguing and contentious idea. For the lay person, justice may signify retribution for a crime; for a judge, it might entail the precise interpretation of the law; while for a philosopher, morality could embody justice. Far from a static concept, justice is a fluid entity, constantly evolving with the shifting sands of societal values.

The prevailing notion of justice aspires to establish a society where fairness, moral righteousness and equality are universal entitlements. The act of deserving what one receives involves aligning actions with individuals appropriately rewarding ethical behaviour and penalising transgressions. Fairness, a pivotal component, dictates uniform treatment of individuals, yet permits unequal responses to rectify past injustices.

Equality, defined as the “state of being equal,” becomes a critical benchmark for democratic societies. The relentless pursuit of various forms of equality — ethnic, gender, or economic — becomes intertwined with the ideal of fostering a society where every individual truly experiences parity.

In essence, justice emerges not as a rigid doctrine but as a living principle, adapting to the evolving tapestry of human civilisation. It is a force that, when harnessed with wisdom and compassion, endeavours to shape a society where righteousness prevails, and every individual stands on equal footing.

The absence of justice in a society is a potent catalyst for its descent into decadence and moral decay. Justice, in its various manifestations, is the bedrock upon which the pillars of a fair and orderly society stand. When this foundational principle is compromised or absent, the resulting imbalance fosters an environment ripe for the proliferation of corruption, inequality and unchecked power. In such a landscape, the marginalised suffer, as they find themselves bereft of the protection and opportunities that justice should guarantee.

Decadence takes root when the scales of justice tip in favour of a privileged few, allowing them to act with impunity while the majority faces the brunt of unchecked injustice. In this skewed reality, trust in institutions erodes, social cohesion fractures and the fabric of the community begins to unravel.

The corrosion of justice fosters a breeding ground for resentment, fostering a culture where individuals feel disillusioned and disconnected from the moral compass that should guide societal interactions. Without justice as its guiding force, a society risks becoming a breeding ground for decadence, as the principles that underpin a thriving, harmonious community are compromised or forsaken.

On the philosophical plain provided by thinkers throughout history, justice emerges as the linchpin for a civilised society; a principle that transcends time and ideologies. Plato, delving into the intricate realms of human virtue, posits justice not merely as a legal concept but as a moral virtue intertwining the fabric of social bonds.

For him, justice is the harmonious order and responsibility of the soul’s constituent parts, akin to the indispensable role health plays in maintaining the body’s vitality. In Plato’s view, justice is not a mere legal abstraction; rather, it is an inherent quality that renders an individual both virtuous and inherently social.

Aristotle, building upon this foundation, elucidates justice as the nexus of legality and fairness, where the latter involves the impartial distribution of unequal elements. In Aristotle’s philosophical framework, justice assumes a pivotal role, becoming the very virtue that breathes life into the state, shaping its vision, and, when fused with ethics, elevating it to the pinnacle of moral values.

Justice, for Aristotle, is the animating force behind a flourishing society, the compass guiding the state’s trajectory towards ethical excellence.

John Rawls, a more recent philosopher, introduces a nuanced perspective on justice, challenging utilitarian philosophies by advocating for an equal distribution of resources as the natural state. In his Theory of Justice, Rawls asserts that every individual possesses an inherent right to basic rights, advocating for equal opportunities and chances commensurate with their skills. His vision of justice amplifies the principle that fairness and equality should form the bedrock of societal structures.

The enduring significance of justice is vividly illustrated in the realms of politics and law, where it stands as the most significant and widely debated goal for states and societies alike. The crux of various political theories from diverse philosophical perspectives revolves around the fundamental concept of justice.

Appeals in the name of justice resound in debates surrounding governmental policies, laws, or rules, underlining its pervasive influence. Justice, as a moral lodestar, holds unparalleled importance in legal and political domains.

The concept of justice has expanded and evolved over the years, becoming inseparable from the idea of a good life. It stands as a guardian, shielding individuals from the perils of societal discrimination in its various forms. As a guiding principle, justice remains indispensable, ensuring that the societal tapestry is woven with threads of fairness, equality and ethical considerations, fostering a civilised and harmonious coexistence.

Justice is not rooted in a legal system. It is a utopian vision, an ideal aspiration. Justice is a concept that evolves. Justice, as well as fairness, moral righteousness and equality are terms used in popular culture to describe receiving what one deserves. Because of Rawls’ influence, the phrase “justice as fairness” has become a famous expression in social science disciplines. It also serves as a full explanation of the concept of justice. It’s tough to define justice because of its nature.

It is imperative for our justice system to uphold justice and equitable principles that soar above personal biases and considerations detrimental to the collective good. For a society to flourish and stand as a bastion of fairness, the pillars of justice must be constructed on foundations that transcend individual interests.

As Pakistan navigates the complexities of its socio-political landscape, the need for a justice system anchored in unwavering principles is paramount. By prioritising justice above personal considerations, the legal framework can contribute to the well-being of all citizens.

The call is for a justice system that stands as a beacon of impartiality, ensuring that the collective good takes precedence over individual biases, thereby fortifying the foundations of a just and thriving society.

The writer is a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore